Church History: Date: A.D. 49-50
An honorable testimony was given by the messengers who delivered the letters: Paul and Barnabas, whom these Judaizing teachers had opposed and censured as having done only half their work, because they had brought the Gentile converts to Christianity only, and not to Judaism. Let them say what they will of these men, "They are men that are dear to us; they are our beloved Barnabas and Paul. These are men who we have a value for, a kindness for, a concern for." Sometimes it is good for those that are of eminence to express their esteem, not only for the despised truth of Christ, but for the despised preachers and defenders of that truth, to encourage them, and weaken the hands of their opposers. "They are men that have signalized themselves in the service of Christ, and therefore have deserved praise from of all the churches: they are men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and therefore are worthy of double honor, and cannot be suspected of having sought any secular advantage for themselves; for they have given their all for Christ, have engaged in the most dangerous services, as good soldiers of Christ, and not only in laborious services." It is not likely that such faithful confessors should be unfaithful preachers. Those that urged circumcision did it to avoid persecution (Galatians 6:12-13); those that opposed it knew they thereby exposed themselves to persecution; and which of these were most likely to be in the right?
The testimony for Judas and Silas: "They are chosen men, and they are men that have heard our debates, and are perfectly apprised of the matter, and will tell you the same things by mouth.” What is of use to us it is good to have both in writing and by word of mouth, that we may have the advantage both of reading and of hearing it. The apostles refer them to the bearers for a further account of their judgment and their reasons, and the bearers will refer them to their letters for the certainty of the determination.
The directions given that outlined the requirements expected from the Gentile converts, in accordance with the advice given by James, was to be give so as to avoid being offensive to the Jews:
They should never eat anything that they knew had been offered in sacrifice to an idol, but look upon it as, though clean in itself, yet thereby polluted to them. This prohibition was afterwards in part removed. They were allowed to eat whatever was sold in the shambles, or set before them at their friend's table, even though it had been offered to idols, except when there was danger of becoming offended by it, that is, of giving an opportunity either to a weak Christian to think the worse of our Christianity, or to a wicked heathen to think the better of his idolatry; and in these cases it is good to let it pass. (1Corinthians 10:25).
They should not eat blood, nor drink it; but avoid everything that looked cruel and barbarous in that ceremony which had been of so long standing.
They should not eat anything that was strangled, or died of itself, or had not the blood let out.
They should be very strict in censuring those that were guilty of fornication, or marrying within the degrees prohibited by the Levitical law, which, some think, is principally intended here.
These things are in a particular manner offensive to the Jews, and therefore do not disoblige them herein for the present; in a little time the Jews will incorporate with the Gentiles, and then the danger is over.
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